Sourav Ganguly wants to be India’s next coach

Former captain feels local candidate is the way forward.

NEW DEHLI: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has pushed himself forward to become the next coach of the national side, telling cricket chiefs that next time they should turn to a home-grown candidate.

The Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher, who took over from South Africa’s Gary Kirsten last year, has been under pressure after heavy Test series defeats against England and Australia. A poor showing in this month’s World Twenty20 could make his position untenable. While Ganguly backed Fletcher to continue in the hot seat, he said that he would be ready to fill the job whenever a vacancy occurred.

“If the Board of Control for Cricket in India feels that I can be a good coach, I will be ready,” said Ganguly. “I feel I can create a difference in terms of the ability of the players, their form and development. That will be one way of my repaying the game. Indian cricket is well aware of modern techniques now. We won the 2007 World Twenty20... and Chandu Borde was the coach on our victorious tour of England in 2007, so it is about the ability to understand the players better that matters now.”

Cancer survivor Yuvraj back for India

Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh will don national colours for the first time since battling cancer, in a two-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand that starts today.

The 30-year-old left-hander underwent chemotherapy in the US in March and April to treat a rare germ-cell tumour between his lungs.

“It is hard to believe that I will be playing for India again,” said Yuvraj. “A few months back I had trouble climbing four steps, now I can’t wait to take the field. It is like starting a new life.”

Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh is also making a comeback after being out of favour for a year.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2012.